Hunger at home: Evans HS provides snacks for students after school

Donors help fill cabinets with food at Evans

Thousands of local students spend their mornings in the classroom and their afternoons in after-school activities.

During the day many of those young people have only one meal -- lunch.

Evans High School in Orange County is making sure its students don't go hungry.

Band members at the school have a busy schedule juggling classes, concerts, sports games and practice.

The students are sometimes nonstop from 7 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m.

"Their blood sugar was dropping and students were passing out," said Principal Jenny Gibson-Linkh.

Gibson-Linkh realized students were getting sick from being hungry.

Some would go hours in the afternoon without food.

"There is a timeframe from 11:30 a.m. to about 6 p.m. that there isn't any food or any nutrition they are taking advantage of," said Gibson-Linkh.

That's why new snack centers are making such a difference at Evans.

Local donors gave $15,000 to fill three cabinets with granola bars, crackers and other foods that are fast and filling.

"You don't want to go to basketball practice or any after school activity on an empty stomach because you can easily get injured because you don't have the nutrition," said Prince Atkins.

"When something happens like somebody didn't eat lunch or something they end up getting sick, so this is really convenient because you can run and just get them a snack," said Donovan Chambers.

The principal said the cabinets can feed up to 600 students in one day. She's hoping the program will grow thanks to the generosity of others.

"It means a tremendous amount to me and to our students and our teachers and all of our staff that individuals care enough to step up and give that extra because that is needed and it is going to a good cause.

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